Wegovy Is Not Just for Weight Loss... Study Reveals 'Unexpected Effect'

GLP-1 Drugs Slow Alcohol Absorption in the Body
"May Help Reduce Intoxication and Prevent Excessive Drinking"

Recent research has found that GLP-1-based obesity treatments, which have been gaining popularity, may also influence drinking behavior. The analysis suggests that these drugs delay the absorption rate of alcohol in the body, resulting in a relatively reduced feeling of intoxication and leading individuals to drink less.

Obesity treatment drug Wegovy. Yonhap News

On October 15 (local time), a research team led by Professor Alex DiFeliceantonio at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute of Virginia Tech in the United States published their findings in the international journal Scientific Reports, indicating that GLP-1 receptor agonists may suppress the desire to drink by slowing the absorption of alcohol in the body.

The study was conducted on 20 adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Half of the participants were already taking GLP-1 drugs, while the other half had no history of using them. The researchers instructed the fasting participants to consume a set amount of cocktail within 10 minutes, then measured their breath alcohol concentration and physiological responses at regular intervals over the course of one hour.

The results showed that in the group administered GLP-1 drugs, alcohol concentration rose more slowly. In particular, in self-assessments asking "How intoxicated do you feel?", participants in the GLP-1 group tended to report feeling less intoxicated.

The researchers identified the drug’s ability to slow gastric emptying as the cause of this phenomenon. When the movement of alcohol from the stomach to the small intestine is slowed, its absorption into the bloodstream is also delayed, and as a result, the speed at which it reaches the brain is reduced. This can weaken the effect of alcohol on the brain’s reward center, thereby contributing to a reduction in craving for alcohol.

In fact, while existing alcohol dependence treatments such as naltrexone and acamprosate work by directly modulating the central nervous system to block cravings, GLP-1 drugs are characterized by indirectly reducing alcohol consumption by affecting the body’s alcohol absorption pathway itself.

This study was inspired by user experiences shared in online communities, where people reported that "after taking GLP-1 treatments, alcohol is no longer as appealing as before." The researchers evaluated that "this drug may offer new possibilities for the treatment of alcohol use disorder."

However, the researchers noted that this was a relatively small-scale preliminary study, and emphasized the need for broader, large-scale clinical trials. Further repeated validation and additional research are required.

According to the U.S. Public Health Service, more than half of American adults consume alcohol, and about 10% experience alcohol use disorder (AUD). The research team added, "These findings will serve as an important stepping stone for diversifying future treatments for alcohol dependence."